people who make music

How did Jason Wilkes — AKA “Wilkes” — go from a Christian band in Cedartown, Georgia all the way to becoming a fan favorite on The Voice? And what surprising revelation did it take him 17 years to discover? Read the post.

If you’re hoping to land a cut, there’s one listener who definitely must connect with your song: the artist you’re pitching to. That’s your first listener, the one who will hear it before the masses. Read More.

We spoke to a music industry veteran to get 10 tips on how to perfect your song pitch and maximize your chances of major artists hearing – and possibly recording – one of your original songs. Read More.

Being a performing artist isn’t the only way to make a living in the music business. Landing a cut can be a way to kick off your solo career, or it could be a way to long-term success as a songwriter. Read More.

You may already have the makings of a network that can help you pitch your songs to other artists — maybe even signed artists. Do your homework. You might be sitting on a mountain of contacts who could open doors of opportunity for you to earn some mailbox money. Read More.

A “pitch” is when a song is presented to an artist in the hopes the artist will record it. When an artist records your song, it is commonly called a “cut.” When you get a cut, it can lead to a wonderful thing called “mailbox money.” Read More.

Making decisions that improve the quality of your final product – based on what you’re hearing – is the basic skill underlying all successful music production. Here are some strategies for improving your listening skills. Read More.

I divide the people who make the music into five categories: musicians, songwriters, engineers, artists, and producers. Part I looked at the first three. Now we explore the artists and producers – and control freaks. Read More.

I divide the creative entities who make the music up into five categories: musicians, songwriters, engineers, artists, and producers. In this post we’ll look at the first three. Part II will explore the artists and producers. Read More.